Official Match Report

In the 85th minute of the second half, I Robert, the match official for the night, called the game off as violent altercations between players began, which was followed by members from the crowd (spectators) coming onto the pitch, punching and kicking players in the back while lying on the ground. While I was managing an incident between two players and asking them to both calm down and continue to play the game, I heard a slap noise behind my back, I must make it very clear that I did not see the incident however, when I turned, a player from Roxburgh Park was laying on the ground holding is face while other players from Roxburgh park were confronting No 14 Saringolis, Jonathan from Caroline Springs George Cross. One can only imagine that this player deliberately slapped the Roxburgh Park player, as I heard Jonathan making a jokingly gesture that it was a soft slap and the player should get up. During this moment, a member from Roxburgh Park had run onto the field of play. I had not called for medical assistance, but it seems he felt that he needed to be on the field and check on the player. This member was wearing a white cap and was involved during the game, but his name is not on the team sheet as a coach or assistant, as the captain (Toma Aziz) of Roxburgh Park United was a player and coach. At this point, I had asked this gentleman to leave the field off play, but I could see that this was not going to happen. As seconds passed, more players were now getting involved, and suddenly, punches between players were exchanged; at this point, the game was lost, and there was no control. I blew the whistle, ending the game in the 85th minute. And ran to corner of the park where the exit was and watched for 20-30 seconds. At least half of each team (players were exchanging punches, players were running away and some unlucky ones were slipping and falling on the ground. I clearly remember that gentleman with the white cap kicking a player in the back twice from George Cross while he was on the ground. At this point, I felt unsafe and walked into the change room. I could clearly hear the alterations continuing outside for at least another 2 minutes. I did not go back outside. After 5 minutes, it was clear that the players had gone back into their separate change rooms, and the matter was settled. George Cross did not provide ground marshals for the game, nor did Roxburgh Park. As I was walking out and leaving the facility, the president of George Cross was questioning my decision as to why i had left and entered the referee change room while altercations were still being displayed by players and spectators on the field. He felt that I should have stayed out there. I felt unsafe and I was not going to risk my safety as so many people were on the field. Throughout the game, my decisions were on the mark, and there were no controversial decisions that impacted or enhanced the temperature of the players. It was clear to me that certain players from Caroline Springs George Cross were out to cause trouble, and one of them was No. 14 from George Cross, who ended up getting a broken nose at the end of the night.

Team Match Report

B. Collins (68)